Pink satin ribbon, rubber inner tubes, and large swaths of flowing organza are some of the materials that Nicholas Hlobo uses in various media — performances, works on paper, sculpture — to examine gender, ethnicity, and his South African heritage. Hlobo, who was born in Cape Town in 1975, is the subject of “MOMENTUM 11: NICHOLAS HLOBO,” which opens at the Institute of Contemporary Art on July 30. For this show — the 11th in the ICA’s “Momentum” series (which examines new developments in contemporary art) and the artist’s first solo exhibition at a US museum — Hlobo will create a site-specific installation centered on a large rubber and ribbon sculpture that hangs suspended in the gallery and is connected to an opening in the gallery wall by a sculptural canal, with soft light from above giving it a pink glow. Expect evocations of the inner reaches of the human body, especially the womb and related channels and passages, as well as images of restraint, resistance, and intertwining. The works are titled in Hlobo’s mother tongue, Xhosa, which is one of 11 official languages of South Africa. Hlobo’s use of the language in his work further reflects his interest in issues of identity and society.

Hlobo has also developed a performance work, “Thoba, utsale umnxeba” (approximately, “to lower oneself and make a call”), which he will present in the gallery on July 31, sitting on an African reed mat and wearing a costume that will create a ritual attachment between the artist and the gallery. After the performance, the costume, the sculptural props, and a recording of Hlobo’s voice will become part of the exhibition.

The Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) was established in 1914, and by the following year it had begun collecting and exhibiting the work of local artists. These included expatriates returning from war-torn Europe and bringing with them international influences to the outer tip of Cape Cod. Over the decades, PAAM has reflected the philosophical and æsthetic debates of the larger art world through ongoing exhibitions and educational programs. Opening at PAAM August 1, the annual “MEMBERS’ 12x12 OPEN EXHIBITION AND SILENT AUCTION” presents work by emerging and established artists, all of it created on 12x12 inch panels. The works are for sale by silent auction, with proceeds going to support PAAM and its programs.

Slideshow: Chunky Move at ICA The Australian troupe Chunky Move performed its 2004 work I Want to Dance Better at Parties at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art from March 27 to 29.

Pottery, Potter, mummies, and a 'Rare Bird' The art of 2000 BC Egypt, visions from the Iraq War and AIDS activism, and the magic of a digital technology and Harry Potter make up the highlights of Boston's autumn art calendar.

Topographic musings "Aggregate" is Maine College of Art's second themed Alumni Biennial at the Institute of Contemporary Art, showing work chosen by a jury from among recent work by BFA and MFA graduates. While the artists represent a range of mediums, graduating class ('97 to '08), and experience, the integrity of the selected works is consistently impressive.

2009: The year in art The year started off with a kick in the teeth when, in January, Brandeis University announced plans to shutter its Rose Art Museum and sell off its masterpieces.

Narrative truth For the majority of us Americans, Iraq and Afghanistan are a series of news-data points — number of Americans killed today, number of car bombs, spending tallies, estimates of civilian deaths.

From Mozart to milonga We Bostonians may swathe ourselves in sweaters and lock our doors against the blustery weather, but once the music begins, dance performances can help us shake off the shivers — and often transport us to more temperate climes.

Fresh fruit and vegetables The bleakest months of New England winter are ahead of us, so the prospect of leaving your toasty house to see art may not be at the top of your to-do list.

Video vérité Javier Téllez's 2007 black-and-white film "Letter on the Blind, For the Use of Those Who See" starts with a catchy premise: he gathered six blind New Yorkers at an empty public pool in Brooklyn to act out the fable of the blind men and the elephant.

THE NATURE OF THE BEAST | September 10, 2008 In the world of graphic novelist Kevin Hooyman, whose show opens at Proof Gallery on September 13, packed line drawings take you deep into strange and fantastical scenes.

I AM I SAID | September 03, 2008 Tufts University Art Gallery presents “Empire And Its Discontents,” which opens September 15 with work by 11 artists tied to previously colonized regions in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.